A Life Ready to End, But a Young One Taken Too Soon

by Bonnie Vasser Smith
(Salado, TX, USA)

November 14, 2008 was a Friday. My Dad, 84 years old, had his second major heart attack. He would have turned 85 on November 30th. He was in ICU at Providence Hospital in Waco, Texas. All his children and some grandchildren came to see him that day. His youngest grand-daughter, Katherine Michelle Gant, stopped to see her Paw Paw on her way to a football game. Katie was a high school senior and had her whole life ahead of her. Last words Paw Paw said to Katie was "Don't drive too fast".

Later that night, Katie would "drive too fast" and ended up meeting her Maker. Thankfully, the two other teenagers with her, would survive the car crash.

The next eleven days are a blur of hospital stays and not revealing to Paw Paw that Katie had preceded him to Heaven. Katie's funeral was one weekend and Paw Paw's was the next. Then the enormous and never ending details to take care of as the executrix. Here I am three months later and it's harder now than it was in the beginning. I cry at the slightest memory. Where has that protective exterior gone?

I've come to this web site to try to find my way through the grief. I can't imagine what my sister is going through having lost her youngest daughter. My mom, married to my dad 61 years, is now finding her way alone.

I keep telling myself that this is not the worst that can happen. I will one day feel better. It's just takes time.